HEALTH AND FITNESS  5

 AUNT BEE  2 BARBEE FITNESS CONSULTING

Keeping my weight off has given me tremendous benefits. I chose not to have any kind of weight loss surgery or take any diet pills. I just chose the old fashioned way of eating right and doing regular, consistent exercise. I am always happy when I think about the route I chose for successful healthy weight loss, because this route has helped me see that I had to be realistic if I were going to achieve my goals. Losing weight and making lifestyle changes takes time and a great deal of effort, and the entire process has to become a way of life. 

But then, there are the many rewards you gain as a result of your determination to succeed. One of my favorite rewards I enjoy is not carrying around an extra 113 pounds everywhere I go, and in everything I do. Sometimes, when I look back, I often wonder how I did this for all those years. It is such a wonderful experience, getting those extra pounds off. I never dreamed that life could be so good, not carrying that extra weight around. 

The reason I stress to people to look closely at their diet is because a lot of times we would not even think that what we may be eating is causing us health problems. Some of the foods we eat seem so innocent, but in reality, they are not. I like to use my experience with olives to illustrate this to people. One small olive, I tell them, has 100 milligrams of sodium. I further relate that I would think nothing of eating 3, 4 or 5 at a time, since they are so small and seemingly harmless. But, after eating, let’s say, 4, I have already consumed 400 milligrams of sodium, and since 2,400 milligrams is what is medically recommended daily, this causes me to consume almost 20 percent in just 4 olives.  

I use my experience with olives to help people see that small quantities of foods we eat could be at the root of their medical problems, especially when you combine these small quantities with everything else you eat in the run of a day. When I put it to people in this manner, it really gets them thinking as well as evaluating what they are eating to see just what could be the problem.   

Keeping my BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 has truly been a safeguard for me. Having the proper BMI has been an added plus in helping me keep my body fat down, and this has contributed to my enjoyment of my new lease on life. I always stress this to people who are trying to get their weight down. I explain to them the importance of using the BMI chart as the guideline for healthy weight loss. 

I have found from my own experience that it is a different world when you get your body in good physical shape. For me, it was like going through a complete mind and body transformation. My mind’s transformation comes from having a better outlook on life, due to the many health benefits I have received from making lifestyle changes. My body transformation comes from having being literally set free from the various health problems I experienced in the past. I keep in mind the importance of staying positive and focused with my lifestyle changes.